local content of vehicles, bringing resources to your community. washington your way, the c-span network. created by cable, provided as a public-service. >> this week, carol highsmith takes us on a tour of america with her photo collections, then shares her photos of the jefferson building, which will appear in "the library of congress." this premiere's monday that if the club p.m. eastern. >> carol highsmith, when did you become interesting in becoming a photographer? >> i was in the broadcasting field. and -- actually, it was a mess and a state of disarray.

-- the willard hotel. i asked if i could go there on the weekend and take some photographs. i thought that this would be fascinating. it was just me and the security guard. >> what year is this? >> 1980. it was a couple of years and this was fascinating. >> it was not just that hotel taxthis was just enchanting and hard to believe that one block from the white house, we had ever let this hotel go into disarray. i was there, learning about the photography, and then, they said that they did not have any of the drawings. i am using 20 photographs from francis benjamin johnston, who

went there in 1901 and took some photographs. the library of congress? and i said this would be fascinating. i thought, these are wonderful and this is what they use. to restore the willard. i thought that this was amazing. in that amount of time, she came in 1901, and in 79 years -- something as grand as the willard hotel where abraham lincoln watched his inaugural presidents had stayed here, and one block from the white house, this has fallen into such my lifetime. i was hoped. that's what i wanted to go into. part of it was i thought i should record my lifetime.

everything in america. the other thing is that we had just gone through the concrete, where they built the fbi building and others like this, and nixon was wanting to take down all of the historic structures on pennsylvania avenue, and just make this all concrete. i said, if i took photographs, people could see this first. i wasthere was a governmental agency, the hudson avenue corp., which was set up after john f. kennedy wrote his inaugural address. he went down pennsylvania avenue and sought other buildings that were in shambles. at that time -- he said to people around him, we have to do something because this is the main street of america.

i went to the pennsylvania avenue organization and said, if you can get me into these places i will do this for you, and i will photograph all of it. and i spent about 17 years photograph in the rebuilding. >> when you start showing some of your photos -- we can catch up with all of this. why were you in alabama. >> i had a relationship with the library of congress and they were kind enough to put this in their collection. last year, i was honored by a man who funded me to go to the state of alabama as the first in a series of going across the

united states, to photograph the beautiful and amazing state of alabama. so i spent all of last summer, with these historic structures, way out there, and everything about this beautiful state is just enjoyable. some of this i did with black and white cameras, the beautiful flower gardens and the cemeteries, and i have traveled the united states for 30 years and i know this very well. but i had not spent that much time in alabama. when i went down to alabama, trouble showcasing this, and i fell in love. but they have beautiful these

historic sections are, and there is a beautifully painted church on every corner. and antebellum homes. >> how long were you in the state of alabama? >> i was there for four months and drove 27,000 miles by myself. >> this is the first top? -- what is the purpose of this? >> i plan to give all my images to the library of congress. i told my would do this 30 years ago. >> why is there no copyright? >> if i am going to give my images to the library of congress -- this is a very famous potter. and look how great these thoughts are? >> you have a website that people can go to? >> this is all about 21st century america.

well i will do is put these on a web site, and all this 21st century alabama, so they can see what i am doing is avoiding for the library of congress website. >> how many photographs did you take? >> about 5000. -- i took about 20,000 photographs. >> this is on film or digital? >> once digital became high- resolution enough, i said this was it, and i took the library of congress with me. they expected the collection to be the largest photographic digital collection in the library of congress. >> who pays for this? >> a man funded me to the state of alabama and defunded me to go down there. and these are all free of copyrights.

he ended up doing a coffee table book. we are just now looking for a corporate sponsor to carry on throughout the whole united states. i am now linked tothe national parks service, the library of congress -- and for a corporate sponsor this would be a very special partnership. >> what will that cost? >> we are seeking about 375- $5,000 per year. -- $500,000 per year. i would be got about eight months of the year, and i would take about 10,000 or 12,000 photographs, -- probably take more like 30,000 photographs. >> anybody can use these, anywhere? >> that is the point.

they are not tethered. really, what i am wanting to do, let me say this. film is almost gone. i have a whole darkroom i have shot over the last 40 years. -- 30 years. you may have problems getting the film. we now take digital images, with billions taken every day. the problem is, what happens when the digital goes away. what i am doing is taking these high-resolution digital images, they are not cell phone images, and i am donating them so that we can put them away so that we can see what america was looking like at the turn of the 21st century. the wonderful thing about the library of congress, this will be woven into whatever comes next, and these will go into the archives.

there is no ending date on them, so they will not just go away like the majority of the images. >> what is the next top? -- next stop tax -- next stop? >> i have one more to go down from alabama, and they want for me to do libraries across the united states. i work for journal services administration which is the largest building owner in america andthey want me to photograph historic courthouses waiting for the list to come down for all of that. ad then we'd look for corporate sponsor to pick up the rest of the united states. this will take 10-15 years. >> i was going to ask you that. i will cover the entire united states every five years. i will go up with the national park service and whoever else is in the group to sponsor.

they have a few that they want. there is noi am interested in all of this. dictator. but america is 85% role. -- role. i am not interested in going from washington d.c. to san francisco. i am interested in driving from washington to san francisco and getting all of the little towns along the way. it's all fascinating to me. from? >> this is hank. >> williams? >> yes, died in. >> at 29 years old. >> you got it. but there he was in montgomery alabama. there is a little museum. of hank williams.

i love country music anyway. this was just so fascinating to go there and say, i know that hank williams died in the scar. -- in this car. and i got worked up about it, and the other thing about alabama, during my youth, was the civil rights movement. i knew what had happened in the south, because my relatives are from the south and i spent a lot of time in the south. although i grew up in minneapolis. and i get back to alabama, and i realize this is the place where this happened. that was martin luther king's to church, by the way. i went everywhere that i could find. >> where were you born? north carolina. >> where? >> not too far away from my grandmother -- my grandmother's tobacco farm. and then i spent my summers with my granny. >> what part of the state? >> greensboro, with the huge tobacco farm.

grandmother lived in atlanta, and she knew margaret mitchell. who wrote "gone with the wind." i would go to the opera with her, and i would go over to granny's house, and i'll be able to do all the things i wanted to do. >> but you went to school in iowa. >> this is right. at the university? >> there was a parsons college that was there. i was not interested in school, but i went, and then i got married and moved to new york city. and started working in broadcasting. i work in broadcasting and marketing for several years. one day, a client of mine --and then i was going to russia. i had one and contest. and they gave me a camera and i took it to russia. >> what kind of camera --

>> this is the most simple camera you have ever seen in your life. it was called a pantex k-1000. this just cost 20 bucks and this took wonderful photographs. everything over there was wonderful at the time in the 1970's. >> and to talk you photography? >> i taught myself. in the willard hotel. i also want to the school of photography. , the corporate. >> you mentioned francis benjamin johnston. how important has she been in your life? >> she is my everything, because during her lifetime, she decided to donate her images to the library of congress and this became the cornerstone of this division. -- princeton photographed division. >> here is a picture of her. >> that photograph was taken at her studio, right near 13th.

and you. her house has been torn down but you can see all of the houses where she lived and i know what she looked at. she photographed various presidential administrations, and presidents, and she was a bohemian. she was a wild person. but, what i admire about her, it'sduring her lifetime, she put together this collection. >> and how many of these photographs of her? there is probably -- maybe 20, 40,003>> we have a photograph that we showed earlier of you at the willard. what year was that? >> 1980 per>> i said i wanted to have a photograph of myself that i have taken just like the one that she took in front of her studio on 13th street. i wanted to be recorded at the same time that she was recorded.

>> we have a picture of teddy roosevelt and his son. that she took. that is not him. there is one of teddy roosevelt himself on his horse. >> let me tell you a fascinating story. about that. i photograph presidential collections with a national park service. the same outfit that he has on, i photographed this outfoot. -- the outfit. >> where was it? >>this was at his home. at sagamore hillsthis was in long island. >> this is a photograph of the willard in the open days. >> this is from france as benjamin to johnston -- francis benjamin johnston. that was the palm court. that is why it is important to take photographs especially architectural photographs ofthis is gone. the only way that we know that this look like is because she photographed this. to me, this says everything.

i actually take photographs, and i am also interested in the one who photographed the depression, dorothea lange and there are some photographs that tell you one thing, and people may say another thing about that time. but photographs speak the truth. what i love is that you can actually go into the photograph and study this. there was a book written about johnston about detail. -- cold, "a talent for detail." she used large format cameras, but you can go into them, to study everything and i think this is fascinating. that is why still photography, to me, is so important. >> how often do you run into people who know the country like you do?

>> i would not say too many. >> there are a lot of people who know the country, and many people -- but the thing that makes me unique is the fact i have been to so many small places. i doubt -- i did books for random house for years, and sometimes my word to me there and sometimes it was curiosity. i did all of route 66. i am very interested in the disappearing america. it's an americait may not be here 25 years from that's now. i want to catch all of this. america has a look to itthis is fascinating to me, and this is something i want to capture because we are a young country. and i correct? in comparison to the rest of the world, we are young.

now it is a very good time. there is a lot of black and white -- right on route 66 in arizona. there are old cars along route 66. are these funds? this is america. way out there. >> how long did you spend there? >> i have been there for years. this is a close-up and this is fascinating. look at this great car. >> what happened to rural america since you have been photographed in best? >> what is happening is that the barns are decaying and falling apart, and so we get the metal barns and things like that. wooden barns --i take a lot of time photographing this. this is in camden, new jersey. this is an old barn in baltimore, believe it or not.

not to far from fort mchenry. i like to go to it the city going to a big city and doing. all the normal stuff and then going to the back of town. this is an old jail in philadelphia. it still looks like this. isn't that fascinating? i would not have wanted to go to prison there. or the neon signs. i love neon sign ai spent a lot of time in the back of vegas. doing all of those motels. lookout fund that this is. -- look of fun this>> and there is an old this. studebaker. >> they have all of these cars, but will they be here 20 years from now? i don't know. i am not sure i need to record thethe lighthouses. east. we have about 900. we've got to put them in the capand we can have these. lighthouses were amazingly important to america.

i have to put them away. this is an old candy man, and he is still there in new orleans. >> and you try to get the stories from these people? a lot of times i>> they are very interested in do. the data base. so you have to get this as well. this is an old rule and in lexington, virginia. this is what is so fascinating. america has a million sides. >> when you are out in the country, how do you keep track of everything? >> the library of congress does not let me submit anything without the data base. that keeps me honest. now i put the number of the shots, and exactly what this was, or i record wherever, and this is such and such. -- on my ipad two.

i cannot submit this to the library of congress unless they know what this this. so i can tell the public what it is>> here is a picture of some. state borders. -- skateboarders to>> this is a louisville ky. this is 20 years old. >> and is this in the library of congress or does this belong to you? >> i have about 20,000 images. -- 300,000 images. this is just a shot that i took. i think that was used in, texas 1000 years athis is about 20 years ago, from go -- new orleans. >> and you have to ask their permission? i usually get model released>> this is a relative of mine,. in a log cabin my great grandfather and my where great- grandfather were born here. she is a relative. she was about 90 years old when i took this photograph.

isn't that great? i got the permissionthis was in providence, rhode and island. it was a little back place. she looked so relaxed. >> did they ever say no to you? >> occasionally. but the library of congress, the horses did not give me permission. >> where are the horses? this is montana, and this was >> the oldest dude ranch in montana and maybe in the united states. just a fabulous place. i said, i have to take a photograph of you. -- this is clint black. this is a lumbering camera, and he said, i will come down. i only got one shot. >> did he know who you were? he did not have it>> i am 8 not

trying to promote close. myself, i am tried to take images. >> where was he when you took that photograph? this was in mckinney, in the >> state of texas. and that was my maiden name, mckinneyand this is new orleans, this is. in new york. -- this is in the hasidic district of new yorkit shows you all the different sides of america. this is in philadelphia. i did a book on redding termi have sold over 50 books. and this is minnesota. where i grew up. >> that i have read that you did the books with your husband? >> he writes the america blog. we are americaphiles. we're both fascinated by this countrywhat a great place. . how lucky we are. >> are you under contract with the library of congress. >> no, but they will have me do libraries and i will be under contract to them.

i am mary to the library of congress. -- i am married to the library of congress. they have the funds -- and we're joined at the hip. i want to please them. this is a place for the work to go. if i'm going to take care ofif i take good images with 30 that much years of experience, i think they're worth giving to and they think i'm worth holding hands with. way out in colors>> look at those clouds. rub. have to's got, do you wait for a day like that? >> i am just driving along. the more i am out of the more i will get shots like that. if you are driving along, that is when you see things thethis is an old red barn in alabama. is and that just fantastic thatlook at how beautiful that this is, and the green grass.

obviously that is the cactus and hours a>> what kind of camera are you night. using? >> i am using several cameras. this is where the snow came down on rock creek on the trees, so i am using an park iconic camera and this is 39 mega pixels in north carolina. -- that in north carolina,this is kind of a resort area in north carolina and this is gorgeous. we know where that itand this is the lincoln is -- memorial. >> the first phase -- this is top-of-the-line commercial equipment. >> what does it cost? that went from 39 to 80 have >> mega pixels. it blows everything off the mapby the time i am finished, it will be about $50,000 just

for the back of this. do you want to see my camera? >> i doi have a couple of things and i am about to get this other one, but this is dedicated to just black and white. i used to use a different camera, but now i use this, and 4 x 5 camera this is one of my cameras. this is an architectural camera sothis will allow me to get the buildings absolutely straight. and the shots are amazing. >> this is a 50,000 piece of -- >> this one is a little less this is just for the back of it,. not the other equipment. >> what is so expensive? >> if you have a moment, though the library of congress and you will see that the images get very big.

i photographed the library of congress itself at the thomas jefferson billand you will appreciate the quality, because this is just amazing. >> we have our producer, we are doing a documentary that will be shown on c-span about the library of congress. we will get to your photobut people can go to your web is in a moment. site to see a lot of these photos. and this is a windmill. where is the>> this is in the state of aztecs texas. some of them are at the library of congress. they will all be given to the library of congress. i have a lot of planning to do. -- scanning to do. that is theodore roosevelt andthere is glacier national park. ilem. there is no where i haven't been. this is pennsylvania in the thomas country. -- tom>> what is your web site? and country.

>> carolhighsmithamerica.com. >> the 21st century project -- what is that? >> i have done alabama, and 21st century alabama. so that people can see what i am doing in alabama, also. some of these are on the web site and some are not. >> will reward you get out of this, personally? -- other than going out to the country, what reward do you get out of this personally? >> i am fascinated by america. and i love this country. and if i can leave this good earth and have left behind how beautiful that we are, for people to appreciate these places, that is all that i need. i will have accomplished everything i needed. >> will people be able to stay at home and look at these projects? >> not only that, i don't know

many other places you can go. if you are in sweden andif you want a high-resolution image, you can download this from the library of congress. the same resolutionsthis is amazing. . there is no ending. i said i am ready to jump to and 80 mbthis is a large, large camera so. that takes up a lot of space but this is no problem. this is fantastic. they are accommodating me. i would not say i m, the inbevthis is the best place for me to and but be. >> and how did you shoot this picture of the supreme court? is this from the ground? >> this is very high resolution. from the ground. that was taken on 4 x 5 foryou can see the quality of this. film.

>> how long did you take to take it>> sometimes this was for a few is just minutes. a tax>> it is very quick unless i have the time for the interior. i might get fired>> do you bring a lot of lights? shots. >> yes. do you have any help? > sometimes i do and sometimes i don't. i have decided i need to travel with somebody. >> do you do other work besides this, commercially? >> i am doing historic courthouses -- that is the old pension building>> in washington. . and the library will help me do a lot of this. i am actually spending as much time as i can try to get funding so that i can gary -- i can carry on with this. the task is important. >> where is this? this is a building in >> minneapolis. this is modern art, and architecture.

that is an old barn in oklahoma. >> this guy is almost always perfect. -- the skies are almost always perfect. >> my job is to showcase -- we have these little images, with all of these wonderful, colorful buildings. i take a lot of details, and -- look at this greyhound bus>> do you see this for yourself or the people say that you have to do the photograph? >> this is actually -- i am interested, if they say to go to kansas city, i will go there. frankfurt -- frank lloyd wright designed this building.

-- racine, wisconsin. it is gorgeous>> and what are we looking at. . >> and this is going into the building? >> this is the walkway, going from one part of the building to the other. >> have you ever had a situation -- i assure assume you shot film -- did you ever have these for years images -- . >> did you ever have a time when you took the shot, and you thought that you have this, but then this was not there? >> it is interesting that you said this. i cannot remember anything because i would always use polaroid to make certain, but this is nothing for me to buy in advance, trying to get that film through the scanners, and all of that.

these were just incredible. i remember many arguments with the scantpeople say, this is important people and i cannot open this box. >> we showed some of her photographs of all of these are about warfare and poverty, and problems. and you are looking at the other side of this. >> i am hoping that -- this is certainly an interesting statement of america. we are not always at our best. there was little town that was shot down. -- shut down. disappearing america is disappearing, but this is us, no matter what. this is america. -- its hours. not every image that i take is the sunny side of the street.

sometimes this is the other side of the street. monument valley. that's look at thei have been back there several that. times. i could go spend a week there. >> and how often are you by yourself? >> this was 20,000 miles by myself, and i do not think i want to do that, either. usually ted is with mayi probably will have an assistant from now on. they opened the window for me for the washington monument. they cannot get those windows open any more, and this was a onetime thing. at that moment. >> what year did you take that photograph? >> that is probably 25 years ago. >> and that window will not open any more. >> maybe they have got them open by now. i don't think so. i have been there many times.

many times by myself to do something for the park service. i went up and i have a scaffolding onthey went all the way around us, and this was taken several years ago. >> we will go to the department of justice. over the yearswhen you work for national, geographic and all of that, and random house, what was the most successful book that you published? >> i did a series of america. i would say that aand this was very successful. loanfinancially, for me and for them. >> they were small coffee table books. >>and they were very reasonable. i also became a publisher. i will tell you whywhen the world opened it --. everyone on earth called me for images.

why isn't there a book herethis is amazing. ? i was indoctrinated, and i went to union station management. i said you should do a book. they said they don't goi became a publisher to publish books this book. i got 10,000 copies of the book. i am standing therethey were opening their at union and station. and i said, you will not believe this. the publishers will be lucky if they will sell five for 10 bucks. -- booksi sold 7500 that day. . >> the day of union station? >> i sold thousands that day. >> is this the book that they still sell over there? >> yes. and you published this? > i published that book and a book on the korean war memorial.

in one week, prior to the opening of the memorial, i said that the need to have a book. they said we don't have time to do it andi told them i would do it. spaceone week later, i had 20,000 copies sitting there. >> this is one week later. >> i came home to my husband. i said we are going to do a book on the korean war memorialhe said, how much time will i. have to write this? i said palle is four andwe had to photograph the ours? monument and find all of the historic, it is printed and have this in chicago and back there for the opening. >> this is hard back? it was a soft cover. i think i slept six hours that>> this is a photograph -- whole week. >> this is the justice department. isn't this gorgeous?

two iconic statues. this was the old address of robert f. kennedy. -- hisisn't this just gorgeous. old office. >> what is used for now? >> this is what i love about the arts. i cannot tell you the names of every piece, but the story of america -- they kept the artists working during a very difficult time. but each piece of art -- this is about us, america. and it is on the library of congress website. there is a barn, and a family having a picnic. >> and there is a stairway. >> but the art is fantastic. >> and they paid to do this, was this very expensive?

>> they would work for so much money, for so many hours. i do not know the exact deal. a look at how gorgeous that this building yes. most people will never see this. >> the fifth floor of the justice department. >> this is the top floor of the justice department. >> you have also done courthouses. >> i have done this for many years. and post offices, a federal buildingwhat is so much fun is that this is when we do the drive across america. we will go to this little town and that little town. >> what is this? >> these are the million dollar court rooms in detroit. isn't that beautiful? that is what it cost. >> how long ago? >> ago.

the other thing i'd do all over the place -- these are eagles. i love eagles. these are everywhere in the building because this is the national symbol. and you find them in every configuration on earth. look at how magnificent. >> this is in detroit? >> that is in detroit and>> the next is in louisiana. -- la fayette>> why did you take this. building? >> i get all sorts -- i do what ever building i am told to do. >> louisiana -- >> arent is just magnificent? what is so great is i can go through this place and see the art photograph it, to feel it, and and this is in miami.

this is the federal building, with a federal judge -- she is at the vietnam memorial. she did -- down in miami, it is like these are waves in the ocean. and these are just mounds of dirt, planted on top, but isn't this beautiful, because this replicates the ocean. >> next is portland, oregon. a shot like this -- >> you know what this is tothis is a man -- this is the tax animals holding court. little artistic statements, the dog and the cat, they are holding court like a courthouse.

>> this is named for hatfield. >> i never know what i am going to run into. isn't this fun? >> and there is a lot more. >> we have to take the camera -- person . >> this is so much fun. >> in all of your photography, did you ever find and how much it was costing? not your part of it, but all the art across the country. >> they did this for each building. multi millions of dollars. i believe in this because this is a good thing. it is our emotional side>> you are born in north carolina and raised in minneapolis. what were your parents of doing>> my parents were both? southerners and my mother were 4 milligram.

-- for billy graham. she was an assistant to the editor of decision magazine, the largest in the world at the time. isn't that amazing? she is 93 years old now, the same age of mg. -- billy graham. i remember that the billy graham evangelical foundation started in one room andthis grew into mega-amazingness. my mother is 93. and she is living near chicago noshe is still sharp. my sister. >> how many children in the family? >> just the two of us. myself and my sister butmy mother had 15 siblings. >> went to school in iowa and then you had some art and design. >> i actually finish my degree paid for by abc at the time at american university. i wanted to go into

communications. and get a degree. >> in your an account executive? -- account executive at abc? >> i failed in marketing by put together unusual things. a morning team and i actually put together sponsorships for them to go overseas to broadcast octoberfest. the afternoon team did that. and then to go over to england, and then go back to the united states. i went with them. i did unusualthis was fascinating. things. >> i want to focus on the library of congress. this is an aerial shot. how do to get that shot? >> this was the national park service, and they were able to get me up in the air and then we had the development corporation for them.

-- for pennsylvania and>> this is the thomas jefferson the net. building. from the air. the last time i went there, for the national park service, this is so important to them. everything about the system is so fascinating. you can see the atoms building behind us, and the madison building, which you can hardly see. >> over on the right hand side. >> rightthis is the ceiling of the, reading room, and as a depiction of civilization. this is the detail of this, and you can look in on this and you can see abraham lincoln representing us. , america. so inof all the different countries it is to put together civilization, there is lots of

art here. but i did, at the library of congress, everything has to do with the theme, of justice or knowledge or motions, chemistry all about us as a people. and knowledge, especially. this is but the minerva. anyway, he asked them to take these photographs in the allied -- the library of congress. this is the great hall. i took a few pictures and i could see that they wanted to have more. i kept on going for a few more years. i was able to take a journey and get even with the art. it is everywhere you look in that building. and you can walk just by this.

some of it is in the ceiling are way up or you cannot saywith this can be places where this. you cannot see this. i went even with the art andi photographed all of this, and the reason that this was so important, and cannot have been done before, i did this with a digital camera, and before, i would have been using this cumbersome camera and when not have been able to get those images in high resolution. i cannot have done this with a list, the list is small. -- lift. we had a small resolution digital camera. i was able to capture all of this. just donating this to them. i was thrilled to catch this. i actually photographed this and they thought this was the most beautiful in america. i don't knowi am not one to say. . but i know that this is a magnificent building and it deserved what it got.

it needed to be done, every inch of this. i'm probably still not done. i could probably spend another year in there and catch more details. look at it. and there is the great hall. this is on american soil. this is not in europe somewhere. this is not from london where some fabulous place overseas. this is us. this is on american soil. the iconic thomas jefferson building, and this is what started the library of congress. >> and this is the house members room? >> this is all a mistake. -- mosaic. these little pieces that put things together. and the american flag is here. isn't this magnificent?

>> did you like that>> sometimes i like this and? sometimes i work in photoshop. and i make a better than what i callover the last five years. >> this is the poetry -- -- a lyric poetry matter. >> i never charged, i just go in and do whatever they need. these are little cherubs. this is the american indian, as you can see, and asia. and all over the world. you can look at the artist. this is us. -- in art. this is fantastic and this is beautiful. >> was this done in the original building? >> they were brought in over 100 years ago to work on the building. -- 50 artisans. i could work for another few years. and i would probably not be done. >> this is the reading room.

>> there are hardly any words -- to say about how beautiful but the building yes. >> the statues predict knowledge, that try to come in, scholarly. >> do you ever feel like you will explode? >> i tried to quiet myself down. at night'si tried to get myself to calm. down. but you can see that i have possessed for this. -- possessed for it. i have done this for 30 years and i am not jaded. i think that this is worth it. and the longer that i do this, the more that i believe this. when i was in alabamain alabama i had people around me, and i would say, i am here to showcase you and put you on the world stage at the library of congress.

your basethis is a small but -- a small small state state that is almost never photographed. i am down here for the only reason thei am here for an important piece because of america. i have photographed america lot, -- a lot, but i could spend another 15 years without issue, and just never stop, shining the spotlight on us. >> which of your books is still in print? >> the book from the korean memorial, the national geographic, monuments across the nation is still in print. >> union station? >> i believe union station is in france. -- in print. i sold the rights to that. i did a book on alabama last year but this was privately published. i have not had a lot of time for books to keep them going,

because we are photographed in america. >> you are taking the photographs, but what do you do to protect yourself, to keep those digital images? where are you storing them? >> i always use two hard drives, and also a server i can back up to. i am always very careful. it has been years since i lost an image. i was backed up to a hard drive one time, and then that fell. that was the last time. this was custer's last band. -- last stand. it turns out i did have this. this is about the last time that this has happened.

i am very careful. >> the photographs that you have taken, exposed the most people. the most historic photograph. >> the photograph that is closest to my heart, probably has been exposed the most, this is hard to tell. i don't know who goes on the website. this is the one that i took from the air of the world trade center, absolutely pristine, no boats in the water, nothing. and they fell two months later. this has been a perfect image, of new york and the world trade center. and this is absolutely spotless. i am just thrilled that i took this, and this was a good day for that. >> what are you looking forward

to? >> i cannot wait to get started. just let me go, let me capture this for as long as i live. >> and what is the next stage? -- state? >> i will go back to alabama. and we will move forward with the whole plan in place. i believe it will be alabama, the library of congress wants me to two libraries all over the country and and they're ready to send me how with the historic buildings. i will go back at least once a year. until we actually get the sponsor in place, i think that -- that will happen this year. we will have everything in place to find a sponsor. >> you said that that camera may cost $50,000?

>> the just the back>> and there is other -- paraphernalia. this is 60 -- >> soap and everyday citizen taking pictures, what will you need? >> i have taken a couple of my favorite images that were taken on a $19 camera. you can take an image on anything. we have a high-resolution images and i am giving my work to the world. but you may be somewhere, for instance. there was a man going by the pentagon, who saw it hit by the plane. he took an iconic image. i say to everybody, it is good to take. with an a thing. it is all right to take with

your cell phone. if i want higher resolution, because 100 years from now, 80 megabytes will be nothing. it is pioneering this whole thing. this is the top of the realm for the moment. it is good enough and you don't need glasses. that's it. that's a good thing. i say to everyone, just have fun with photography. it is so fun to have a camera to record your town. >> carol highsmith, d.c. resident and photographer. thank you so much. >> thank you for having me. ♪ [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011]

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